AUGUSTANA TOPS NSIC WOMEN'S GOLF PRESEASON POLL

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Augustana University, winners of 11 of the last 12 NSIC Championships, was picked to win the league in the preseason women's golf coaches' poll. The Vikings received 12 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and tallied 144 points, 32 points ahead of second place Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears amassed 112 points while Wayne State was third with 107 points and the other first place vote. 

Augustana's Molly Stevens was voted by the league coaches as the preseason golfer of the year.  Stevens was the 2021-22 NSIC Golfer of the Year as she led the NSIC with a 76.6 stroke average. She earned one first place finish, five top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes and was named NSIC Golfer of the Week on two occasions. 

The 2022-23 NSIC Women's Golf schedule begins in late August, while the three-round NSIC Women’s Golf Championship will take place next spring on April 28-30 at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Missouri.

PRESEASON GOLFER OF THE YEAR

• 2021-22 NSIC Golfer of the Year
• Led the NSIC with a 76.6 stroke average in 2021-22
• Earned one first place finish (Mustang Invite), five top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes
• Named the NSIC Golfer of the Week on two occasions, September 29 and March 15 during the 2021-22 season

SEASON PREVIEWS & ATHLETES TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

Augustana finished the 2021-22 season at the NCAA Regional Tournament, placing eighth, after winning its 11th NSIC championship in the last 12 seasons. The eighth place finish is the 12th trip to the NCAA Regional since AU has played in the tournament. Head coach Coralee Jorgenson was named the 2021-22 NSIC Coach of the Year, earning her second-consecutive coaching honor since she was named head coach in 2020. Seven players return to the team for the new season: Molly Stevens (Sr.), Rachel Halvorson (Jr.), Shannon McCormick (Soph.), Masy Mock (Soph.), Rachel Schwarz (Jr.), Annika Stensrud (Soph.) and Lauren Tims (Jr.). There are two new additions to the 2022-23 roster in Sophie Pokela and Lanie Veenendall, both coming to Augustana from high schools in Wisconsin.

• 2021-22 NSIC Golfer of the Year
• Led the NSIC with a 76.6 stroke average in 2021-22
• Earned one first place finish (Mustang Invite), five top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes
• Named the NSIC Golfer of the Week on two occasions, September 29 and March 15 during the 2021-22 season

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

The Bemidji State women’s golf team returns five letter-winners from the 2021-22 season. Junior Mollie Albrecht leads all returners with an 85.0 career scoring average and is BSU’s preseason golfer to watch. Last year she held a scoring average of 84.2, posted eight events within the top-20 and t-36th at the NSIC Championship. She is followed by sophomore Katie LeBlanc who held a scoring average of 93.3 in her first season with the Beavers. The pair will be joined by sophomore Vaida Behnke, sophomore Savannah Byfuglien, junior Maddy Sawyer and newcomer Isabella Depew as BSU women’s golfers this season. Erica Gartner will begin her first full season as head coach of the women’s golf team after previously serving as the interim head coach last spring.

• Returns for her junior season after leading the Beavers during her sophomore campaign with a scoring average of 84.2 in 17 rounds
• Posted a career-low round of 75 at the Mustang Invite last year
• Finished in the top-20 in eight events last year including three in the top-10 and one in the top-5
• Finished fourth at the Jimmie Spring Swing with a score of 170 (87-83) last March
• Placed t-36th at the NSIC Championships with a score of 267 (87-93-87)

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

Concordia-St. Paul heads into the 2022-23 season armed with a pair of All-NSIC Second Team returners in juniors Isabella Dory and Anna Tollette.

Further, the team’s top three scoring leaders return as junior Jessica Hagman joins Dory and Tollette to give CSP a strong trio with experience.

The three players were separated by less than two strokes across 19-to-21 rounds of play last season led by Dory’s 79.71 scoring average which ranked among the league’s top-10, finishing at eighth in the league. Tollette followed with an 81.00 average, just over a half stroke better than Hagman’s 81.63. All three players had at least two top-10 finishes on the year while Dory led the team with four top-10 finishes, with Tollette leading the team with two top-5 and one medalist finish.

While the program said goodbye to longtime coach and alum Taylor Ramirez, the team will be in good hands with the August appointment of Peter Maki as interim head coach. Maki has been an instrumental part of the program, serving as an assistant coach for the previous three years.

Coach Maki will have the women’s team armed with its top three leading players from a year ago, while the toughest member to replace will be Erika Olson, the NSIC Most Outstanding Senior, a fifth-year senior who played in 84 career rounds with a career-best 81.47 scoring average in 2018-19.

The program welcomes three freshmen: Brooke Anderson, Darbay Barstad and Piper Hill. 

• 2021-22 CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large First Team
• 2021-22 All-NSIC Second Team
• Two-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence
• Placed 6th at NSIC Championships (81-84-75)
• Ranked 8th in NSIC season scoring average (79.7) in 21 rounds

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

Entering just their third season, the University of Mary women’s golf team looks to capitalize on a veteran group of returners in the 2022-23 season. The Marauders return four of their five competitors from the 2022 Northern Sun championships and six scholar-athletes from last year’s roster. 

UMary finished 10th at the NSIC tournament last spring for the second straight season.  

Emily St. Aubin paced the Marauders efforts in 2021-22. Named the Marauders 2022-23 NSIC Golfer to Watch, St. Aubin finished 10th at the league championship last spring. Her effort was a UMary program record at the NSIC tournament. The sophomore from Ashley, N.D. recorded three top-10 finishes in seven events in her first collegiate season and she ranked 26th in the NSIC with an average score of 83.4 per round. 

Juniors Anna Graveline, Alli Hulst and Kaleigh Carmichael and sophomore Madison Bohn provide experience for the Marauders. Graveline was second among the Marauders at the NSIC meet, placing 39th overall. Her average round of 87.5 was 2nd best on the squad. Carmichael, who placed a team-best 31st at the 2021 NSIC tournament, returns after missing last season.  

Under the direction of 2nd year coach Marion Hernandez, the Marauders open the season Sept. 12-13 in Bemidji, Minn., before hosting the University of Mary Match Play Invitational on Sept. 15 and the Marauders Tournament on Sept. 19-20 as part of the team’s 7-meet fall schedule.

• Placed 10th at the 2022 Northern Sun championships as a freshman
• Best-ever individual finish for a Marauder at the NSIC tournament
• Shot a 3-day total of 247
• Shot a 79 to rank sixth after the opening day
• Had two top-5 and three top-10 finishes in seven events
• Ranked 26th in the NSIC with an average score of 83.4 per round  

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

Minnesota Crookston made a move in a positive direction during the 2021-22 season. The Golden Eagles shot a 350 at the EverSpring Inn & Suites Mustang Invite for their lowest round as a team since 2016. Minnesota Crookston finished 12th at the NSIC Women's Golf Championship in 2022. They will look to build off the positive gains heading into 2022-23. The Golden Eagles return Clara Hanson (So., Grand Forks, N.D.), who shot the team's lowest round (78) since Katie Sheetz in 2016. Minnesota Crookston also returns Abby Stender (R-Sr., Madison, Minn.), Denali Johnson (So., Grand Rapids, Minn.), Ciera Kotaska (Jr., Thief River Falls, Minn.), and Tiffany Kozojed (Jr., Hillsboro, N.D.). Minnesota Crookston adds newcomers Anaka Lysne (Fr., Wahpeton, N.D.) and Lauren Bowyer (Fr., Ivanhoe, Minn.). Lysne was named Ms. Golf North Dakota. 

• Led the Golden Eagles with a scoring average of 86.8 during the 2021-22 season
• Low round was a 78 at the SMSU Spring Invite
• Shot the lowest round of any Golden Eagle since Katie Sheetz in 2016
• Shot an 80 at the Augustana Fall Invite

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

Led by junior All-NSIC First Teamer Ann Cihak, Minnesota State's first-year head coach Alex Schmitz returns several veterans from last year's team which placed fourth at last year's NSIC Championship. Including a ninth-place finish at the 2022 NSIC Championship, Cihak put together a 79.4 average over 21 rounds last year. Senior Madi McGinty finished 18th at the 2022 league tournament and averaged 82.2 while competing in 21 rounds. Seniors Sam Soulier (83.5, t2th at NSIC Championship) and Megan Koch (88.4, t31st at NSIC Championship) are expected to provide depth.  Freshman Samantha Youngquist (Chaska (Minn.) High School) joins the Mavericks after capturing the girls 16-18 division title of the 2022 Twin Cities Junior Championship.

• 2021-22 All-NSIC First Team selection
• Led Minnesota State with 79.4 mark last year
• Had six top 10 finishes (out of 10 tournaments) last year
• Finished ninth at 2022 NSIC Championship
•  T-2nd at EverSpring Inn & Suites Mustang Invitational
• Posted a career low-round 72 in 1st round at EverSpring Inn & Suites Mustang Invitational

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

Seniors Madison Braun, Meghan McBride and Callie Krause lead the Dragons into 2022-23. Braun led MSUM with a 90.9 stroke average while McBride had a 92.4 average. Krause competed in all 18 rounds a year ago. Junior Erin Summerbell and sophomore Charmaine Haas also return with a lot of experience. Freshmen Halle Balluff, Ady Tysdal and Adie Wagner will look to contribute right away.

• Tied for 14th at state meet in 2021
• Two-time all-conference individual
• Part of Fargo Shanley Team that won ND State Team Championship
• Low individual round of 76

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

Back for his first full season as head coach, Eli Mihalick provides stability for a Minot State program that returns a bulk of its team and looks to improve on a ninth-place finish at the NSIC Championship. Also back is junior team leader Taylor Cormier who finished 22 at the NSIC Championship with a 39-over 255. After two seasons and 12 tournament, Cormier boasts an 84.54 stroke per round average and finished a career-best 2nd at the 2022 Dickinson State Spring Invite. Also back are fellow juniors Holly Knudsen and Jaci Jones to add depth to a team that adds freshmen Averi Bradley from Minot, and Abigail Goettle from Dickinson High School (N.D.) to round out the five-player roster. Bradley, a student a junior at Minot State, will be playing her first season with the Beavers as teaches golf at Souris Valley Golf Course.

• Led Minot State at the NSIC Championships finishing 22nd at 39-over 255 (87-88-80)
• Has an 84.54 stroke per round average in her two-year collegiate career
• Has two Top-10 finishes in 12 collegiate events
• Shot a career-low round of 79 during the 2020-21 season
• Has a career-best finish of runner-up champion at the 2022 Dickinson State Spring Invite

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

The University of Sioux Falls Women’s Golf team looks to improve on their 8th place finish at the NSIC Championship this past season. The Cougars will be without two veteran golfers during the Fall season as Maggie Veenendall and Marisa Weeks will miss time due to injury. This provides a great opportunity for freshman additions Emily Harste and Alissa Thorfinnson to see meaningful time. USF’s Player to Watch, Annie Balduzzi, will aim to build on a solid 2021-22 campaign where she collected three top-10 finishes. The senior averaged 84.76 strokes last year which was a two stroke improvement from the year before. Under Head Coach Wade Merry’s direction USF claimed two team titles, five top-five finishes, and only finished outside the top-10 once last season.

• Competed in 17 rounds across eight events
• Improved her average to 84.76 strokes
• Placed top-five twice 
• Shot a season best 79 at the Augustana Easter Lily Invitational en route to a 7th place finish

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

SMSU head coach Ross Webskowski—entering his 19th season—returns a veteran roster this fall with eight letter winners on the roster, including four seniors, three juniors, one sophomore and welcomes two true freshmen to the team. SMSU returns its top four stroke leaders from last season’s team that placed seventh at the NSIC Championships. 

The Mustangs will compete in six events this fall including hosting the 24th annual EverSpring Inn Mustang Invite on Sept. 24-25 at the Marshall Golf Club.

Senior Sally Gallaher returns after earning All-NSIC second team honors last season while leading SMSU with an 81.7 stroke average in 20 rounds. Junior Jacqueline Gossen also returns after ranking second on the squad a season ago with an 83.8 average in 20 rounds, while senior Courtni Frank is back after averaging 84.6 last season in 13 rounds. Sophomore Ashley Trongard played in 18 rounds last season and finished fourth on the team with an 85.2 average. 

During his 18 seasons as head coach, Webskowksi has led SMSU to a pair of NSIC championships and six NCAA region tournaments.

SMSU opens the 2022 fall season on Aug. 29-30 at the Maverick Invite at Faribault Golf and Country Club.

• Ranked first on the team with an 81.7 average in 11 rounds in 2021-22
• Named All-NSIC Second Team in 2021-22
• Recorded six rounds of sub-80 during the 2021-22 season
• Had two top five, two top 10 and seven top 20 finishes last season
• Ranks eighth in team history with an 84.1 career stroke average

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

For the twelfth season, Head Coach Mike Lewis will lead the Peacock women’s golf team onto the course this year. The team will be full of new faces after four Peacocks graduated following a solid season in 2021-22. Upper Iowa enjoyed success across the nine events last season and finished inside the top three at four separate invites including winning the annual UIU Spring Invitational for the second year in a row. UIU claimed third place at the 2022 NSIC Women’s Golf Championship, which was their best finish since taking third to close the 2014-15 season. The Peacocks finished third in the NSIC with a team stroke average of 326.7. 

Upper Iowa will have to replace the play of a pair of All-NSIC performers, MacKayla and MacKenzie Olsen, as well as Jaden Schweinefus after the trio graduated in May. MacKayla finished in a tie for fourth place at the NSIC Championships, while her sister turned in a 72 during the final round of the championships to tie for individual low round by a Peacock this season with her sister.

Ryah Bergeron and Delaney Martin return to the lineup this season and will work with a few new faces as they look to build on last year’s success. The Peacocks will open their fall season in Blaine, Minnesota at a tournament hosted by Concordia University, St. Paul. The event is one of four tournaments for the team with two in Minnesota, one in Illinois and one in South Dakota.

• Played 12 rounds for UIU as a freshman
• Qualified as the fifth scoring golfer to represent Upper Iowa at the 2022 NSIC Championships

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

Wayne State finished second at the 2021-22 NSIC Championship as the Wildcats posted a three-day total of 993, trailing only Augustana at 940 in the team race. In just the second year following an eight-year suspension of the program, Wayne State improved from a ninth-place finish last season to second.  Abbey Kurmel captured individual medalist honors as she finished at 14-over par 230 carding rounds of 76-76-78.  

Wayne State's team scoring average of 324.1 last season was a 21-shot improvement from the previous season as the Wildcats re-wrote the WSC school record book. Nine of the top 10 single day team scores and the top 22 individual 18-hole scores were shot last season.

The Wildcats open their season on Sept. 6-7 at the Region Preview in Blue Springs, Missouri.

• 2021-22 NSIC Individual Medalist
• Shot +14 over par to finish at 230 (76-76-78) and earn NSIC All-Tournament Team honors
• Played in 10 events and 21 rounds averaging 81 strokes per round
• Had one first place finish, two top five and three top 10 finishes on the season

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Winona State University women’s golf team is experienced and ready to begin their 2022-23 season. The Warriors return all five golfers from last year’s NSIC Championship lineup and have added an outstanding recruiting class going into the 2022-23 campaign.
Leading the way for WSU will be Carly Moon, who led the team with a 79.6 scoring average while earning medalist honors twice last season. Marah Rothgarn, Jessica Smith, Ellie Behring, and Toni Baldwin are all returning after being staples in the lineup last season. 
Head coach Jeff Straight has high hopes for the future of WSU women’s golf after adding key golfers heading into the 2022-23 season. Keely Nguyen, Kessa Mara, Brianna Novak, and Roycee Southerland, will look to add strength throughout the Warrior lineup.
The Warriors earned top-five finishes in eight events last season, including a fifth place at the NSIC Championships. WSU also took home team championship honors in three separate events.
Winona State will open competition at the BSU Invitational, hosted by Bemidji State, on Sept. 12-13. The Warriors will serve host at The Watkins Invitational on Sept. 26-27 in Lake City, Minn., an event they won a season ago. All-in-all, WSU will compete in five events during the fall portion of their 2022-23 schedule.

• Held a 79.6 scoring average to lead WSU last season
• Earned medalist honors in two separate events during 2022
• Finished 7th at the NSIC Championships
• Named to the Second Team All-NSIC in 2022